|
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Each incoming student is assigned a faculty
member who serves as the academic advisor. Advisors assist students in
relating their interests and abilities to career goals and in developing
decision-making skills. They also provide information about College
policies, procedures, and requirements, and make referrals to campus
support services. Another of the advisor’s primary roles is to guide
students in designing their academic program, making course selections,
and completing degree requirements.
It is recommended that students meet with
their faculty advisors during their office hours on a regular basis.
Advisees are encouraged to become familiar with the policies and degree
requirements published in the College Catalog and to keep records of their
course progress. During the pre-registration period, students must meet
with their advisors to obtain approval for course selection prior to
registering for the following semester. Students should prepare for the
advising session by planning a tentative schedule to be discussed with the
advisor.
CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT
AND ADVISING
The Center for Academic Support and
Advising (CASA) addresses the diverse academic needs and interests of the
College community with programs, services, and facilities designed to
promote academic achievement. All students at the College are encouraged
to make use of the tutorial services, seminars and workshops, resources,
and individual study accommodations offered at CASA. In addition, CASA
provides special admissions opportunities and academic support for persons
with physical and/or learning disabilities. Among the resources
offered at CASA are:
The Advising Center
The Advising Center is a resource for information on
academic programs and support services. Undeclared students, or those who
are contemplating a change of major are especially encouraged to visit the
Center. Staff members are available for individual conferences on choosing
a major, academic planning in course selection and graduation
requirements, and strategies for remaining in good academic standing.
Academic Enrichment Program
Each year, Framingham State College selects a group of
students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at Framingham
State College, but who are identified as likely to benefit from academic
support services to achieve their educational objectives. These students
are admitted to the College through PLUS (Program Leading to Undergraduate
Success). Program participants enroll in the same courses and satisfy the
same graduation requirements as all undergraduates at the College.
The Math Center
The Math Center offers free drop-in tutoring in math to
students who need help with the quantitative requirements for any course
in which they are enrolled. Workshops and organized study groups are
routinely scheduled for math and math-related courses. The Center also
offers videotapes and computer-assisted learning modules for student use.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center provides free tutoring in writing,
drop-in or by appointment, to students seeking assistance with written
coursework. Writing workshops, individualized writing skills assessment,
and course-specific writing support groups are also featured.
The Reading Center
Students at Framingham State College read proficiently
enough to have graduated from high school and to have satisfied admission
requirements of the College. However, reading is a skill that develops
over a lifetime, and some students may not process information derived
from text at the level demanded for excellence in college-level courses.
The Reading Center offers course-related seminars and general reading
workshops, as well as computer-assisted modules for individual students.
Other CASA Services
CASA maintains a computer lab with personal computers
linked to the "hemhall" student network, and is a wireless laptop access
site. In addition, CASA offers workshops that help students prepare for
the Massachusetts teacher tests, retakes of the College's placement tests,
and writing and mathematics labs for students enrolled in certain courses.
Limited hours for drop-in tutoring in biology, chemistry,
economics, Spanish, French, computer science and history are available
during regular daytime hours. Visitors are invited to drop in during the
week at CASA, located in South Peirce Hall, between the hours of 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. During the academic year, CASA is also open in the evenings,
Monday - Wednesday until 9:00 p.m.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Framingham State College, in compliance
with the mandates of Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offers
opportunities to all students without regard
to disabilities. No qualified person shall, on the basis of his or her
disability, be denied the benefit of, or otherwise be subject to
discrimination under any of Framingham State College’s educational
programs, activities, and employment opportunities.
Framingham State College is committed to making such
reasonable modifications and accommodations as are necessary to ensure
that its programs and activities do not discriminate, or have the effect
of discriminating, on the basis of disability. Prior to matriculation,
students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Director of
Academic Support, telephone (508) 626-4905 to discuss specific
accommodations and to request a Disability Services registration packet
that includes the Disability Services handbook.
Students who have documents that support their request for
academic and co-curricular support services, such as untimed tests,
extended time for tests, notetakers, sign language interpreters, computer
transcribers, and textbooks on tape are required to submit their
documentation to the Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA). The
file is maintained in the confidential Registry for Students with
Disabilities located at CASA. The Director of Academic Support schedules
individual conferences with each student to arrange for the appropriate
support services. Inquiries regarding academic support should be directed
to the Director of Academic Support at (508) 626-4905.
There are four TTY's (telecommunications for the deaf) on
campus: Admissions Office at (508) 626-4500 (V/TTY); Disability Services
Office at (508) 626-4627 (V/TTY); Public Safety and Police Services at
(508) 626-4911 or (508) 626-4008 (TTY); and Whittemore Library at (508)
626-4655 (TTY).
CAREER SERVICES
Career Services offers a wide range of career planning and
job search resources. The office provides individual career counseling and
an extensive Career Resource Center collection. Students are advised to
use the office early and often during their studies.
Some of the office’s programming includes an annual job
fair, a professional and graduate school fair, career panels, and
networking with alumni. Job and internship listings are also available.
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one
internship, and many departments offer credit-bearing courses for these
experiences. Career counselors are available to assist with career
planning, graduate school decisions, and the preparation of resumes and
cover letters.
To connect with Career Services, visit the D. Justin
McCarthy College Center, Room 507, or visit the website at
www.framingham.edu/careerservices
THE COUNSELING CENTER
The Counseling Center enhances learning and personal
development through its professional services which include individual,
couples, family, and group counseling as well as outreach programs.
Staffed by clinical social workers, a psychologist, and a consulting
psychiatrist, the Center assists students in exploring and coping with
personal concerns. Confidentiality is assured to the fullest extent of the
law. The Counseling Center is located in Room 517 of the D. Justin
McCarthy College Center.
HEALTH SERVICES
Health Services functions as a walk-in center for the
treatment of episodic illness and health maintenance. A staff of nurse
practitioners, nurses and consulting physicians provides the management of
acute and chronic illness, health education, and preventive medicine. In
addition, the department sponsors and coordinates health education
programs in cardiopulmonary fitness, weight management, women's health,
substance abuse, skin cancer, integrative health, sexual assault and rape
prevention.
Every student must submit the Framingham State College
medical form. All students prior to class registration must meet the
pre-entrance immunization requirements, based on Massachusetts Law No.
5871. The Medical History and Physical Exam portions must be completed in
order to utilize Health Services and obtain resident housing. Specific
requirements are detailed in the medical forms. The department also
coordinates the Student Health Insurance Program. Questions regarding this
state-mandated program may be directed to this office.
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Religious services, educational programs, and volunteer
service opportunities are made available through the Campus Ministry
office. The office also provides spiritual guidance and counseling for
members of the Framingham State College community who are dealing with
issues of faith or morality. The Campus Ministry Office is located in Room
410B of the D. Justin McCarthy College Center.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICE SERVICES
The Public Safety and Police Services Department is
committed to providing protection for the lives and property of the
College community. The Campus Police also enforce state statutes, town
ordinances and the rules and regulations of the College in an effort to
promote a secure and safe campus. Additional services provided by the
department include emergency transportation to and from medical
facilities, unlocking cars for staff and students, investigation of
incidents on campus, traffic control, court appearances, parking, and
escort service. The Department also provides personal safety-related
programs throughout the year. Any group wishing to have a safety program
for their organization, club, or class may contact the office in the
College Center, West Lounge.
LIBRARY SERVICES
The Henry Whittemore Library provides a combination of
traditional and modern resources and services to the College’s students,
faculty, and staff. Local holdings include approximately 200,000 volumes
of print materials, 409 periodical titles and 600,000 units of microforms.
This basic core of resources supports the curricula of all academic
departments of the College and is systematically kept current with new
acquisitions as selected by specialized staff and requested by faculty and
students.
As a member of the Minuteman Library Network (MLN), the
Library’s holdings are supplemented by an on-line catalog (OPAC) accessing
more than 2.5 million volumes held in the combined collections of 41
regional libraries. Inter-library loan requests may be placed
electronically, and shuttle delivery moves 8000 or more such items to and
from the Henry Whittemore Library annually. A similar volume of materials
is electronically accessed and requested as needed from among the 600
member libraries of the New England Library Information Network (NELINET)
and the 13,000 member libraries of the On-line Computer Library Center (OCLC).
The Library offers access to approximately 50 electronic
journal and newspaper databases with over 15,000 titles in full-text.
These databases, as well as Internet access, are available within the
library and throughout the campus-wide network.
Reference services, basic and course-related library
instruction, and point-of-use guidance support effective delivery of
computerized resources, while traditional library skills and research
methods are taught as integral to the continuously evolving information
technology.
Also administered within the Library are the units of
Archives/Special Collections which include historical materials unique to
the College, and the Curriculum Library - a large, separate collection of
model K-12 materials supporting studies in Education.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
Framingham State College provides extensive computing
capabilities to its students. The student network consists of a
combination of general computer labs, academic/classroom computer labs,
and residence hall labs. In addition, Framingham State College's wireless
laptop program requires that all incoming freshman and transfer students
own their own personal laptop, a requirement that came into effect in the
fall of 2002. In total, there are approximately 220 college-owned desktop
computers in the various labs on campus for student use. There are also
approximately 800 "loaner laptops" available to juniors and seniors in
laptop-required courses. Students living on campus will be able to access
our network either via a hard-line or by using wireless capabilities
available in every residence hall.
Each student will receive his or her own Framingham State
College network account, which will allow students onto our network and it
will also provide students with disk space for the storage of academic
related files. Every student will also receive a Framingham State College
e-mail account, which can be accessed via the Internet. Most computers on
campus are PC's (Windows), however, there are a number of Macintosh
computers in labs for students enrolled in certain
art, communications, and education courses. Many classrooms on campus are
equipped with SMART technology, featuring interactive whiteboards,
distance learning capability, and other advanced technology.
A wide array of software is available to students in
classroom buildings. Among other applications, each workstation in the
general and academic computer labs has Microsoft Office 2000 Professional,
Microsoft Publisher and FrontPage, Internet Explorer, Netscape, and SPSS
and Minitab statistical research packages. In addition,
departmental-specific software is available in departmental labs and on
selected workstations in the general and academic computer labs. The
primary servers for the student domain run Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced
Server. There is also a Unix Server available to students enrolled in
Introduction to Unix courses.
The general and computer science labs in Hemenway Hall G20
are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding some holidays and
down-time for maintenance). The Student Helpdesk is located in HHG17
outside of the general computer lab. Fellow Framingham State College
students who have been trained to assist their peers with computer related
issues staff the Student Helpdesk. The Student Helpdesk is the first place
for students to visit when needing computer/technology related assistance.
Another resource for FSC students is the Laptop Helpdesk
located on the lower level of the Arthur Doyle Technology Building
(adjacent to the Whittemore Library). The Laptop Helpdesk is available to
provide basic troubleshooting and first-level diagnostic and
network support for students' laptops. The laptop helpdesk is also where
college recommended laptops can be serviced and repaired. Distribution,
collection and maintenance of college owned laptops for upperclassman
enrolled in laptop courses are coordinated though the laptop helpdesk. For
more information about Information Technology Services, please visit our
website at http://its.frc.mass.edu/.
ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY AND
DISTANCE LEARNING
The Division of Academic Technology and Distance Education
is one of the major divisions on campus. Its mission is to promote and
support the "advanced technology" component of the College’s mission.
Division staff members administer the College’s Blackboard server for
Web-based and Web-enhanced courses, provide planning and support for the
academic components of the laptop program, and provide a wide range of
professional development workshops in the Leonhard Multimedia Lab. Through
a combination of these experiences, the College typically hosts
approximately forty online course sections in Graduate and Continuing
Education plus a hundred Web-enhanced course sections for campus-based
undergraduate courses each term. The Division’s offices are located in
Hemenway Hall G09.
ATHLETICS
Athletics offers a broad intercollegiate and intramural
program for men and women throughout the academic year. On an
intercollegiate level, for women, Framingham State sponsors field hockey,
cross-country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and softball. For men, the
following competitive teams represent Framingham State College: soccer,
football, cross-country, hockey, basketball, and baseball. The Athletic
Office is located in Room 111 of the Athletic and Recreation Center.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND
CAMPUS EVENTS
The Office of Student Involvement and Campus Events
coordinates, in conjunction with student clubs and organizations, a full
program of social, cultural, recreational, and educational activities. The
department emphasizes involving students in the planning process to
provide valuable first-hand experience. There are also several leadership
development opportunities available for beginning to advanced student
leaders. Additionally, the Office coordinates the College Center
Reservation system. The Office serves as a resource for information about
on- and off-campus activities and is located in Room 406 of the D. Justin
McCarthy College Center.
ORIENTATION AND
FIRST-YEAR PROGRAMS
An orientation program is offered for new first-year and
transfer students prior to the beginning of classes in the fall and spring
semesters. The orientation program is designed to provide a comprehensive
introduction to the academic, social and cultural dimensions of Framingham
State College and to prepare students for a successful first year on
campus. Through meetings with faculty, students and administrators,
information is presented on academic requirements, registration, student
services and campus life. Special orientation activities are offered for
students in the Adults Returning to College Program and the parents/guests
of entering students. Information about the orientation program will be
mailed a month before the program to incoming freshmen and transfer
students after they have sent their deposit to Admissions indicating their
intent to attend the College.
Programs for new students at Framingham State College are
offered throughout their first year to support the transition of
students into the College community. These include academic support for
students living on the First Year floor in Larned Hall and First Year
Learning Communities. The Orientation and First-Year Programs Office is
located in the College Center.
RESIDENCE LIFE AND HOUSING
PROGRAM
The Residence Life and Housing program, through
programmatic and staff support, strives to facilitate an on-campus
community environment fostering student learning, personal development,
and valuing diversity. All residents are expected to share the
responsibility for creating and maintaining positive living and learning
environments. These goals require residents to be open to living
cooperatively and working actively to cultivate a climate conducive to
academic pursuit and respect for all. Please contact the Residence Life
and Housing Office, located in Suite 508 of the D. Justin McCarthy College
Center, to learn about the program.
SOCIAL ISSUES AND
WELLNESS EDUCATION PROGRAM
In recognition of the many social issues facing young
adults and the effect these issues have on their ability to learn and
succeed academically, Framingham State College has established a Social
Issues and Wellness Education Program. Located in room 509 of the D.
Justin McCarthy College Center, the Social Issues and Wellness Education
Program sponsors campus wide events, residence hall and peer education
programs, and provides resources on several topics related to alcohol and
wellness issues. This campus- wide prevention effort is dedicated to a
holistic philosophy of wellness and encourages staff, faculty, and
students to visit the office and learn more about the issues that shape
their decisions and choices.
COLLEGE ACADEMIC
PROGRAM SHARING (CAPS)
College Academic Program Sharing (CAPS) is a program for
the sharing of academic facilities by the students attending Massachusetts
State Colleges. Participating colleges include Bridgewater State College,
Fitchburg State College, Framingham State College, Massachusetts College
of Art, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Salem State College,
Westfield State College, and Worcester State College.
The primary purpose of this program is to offer the
opportunity to students registered at one state college to take up to
thirty (30) semester hours of college credit at another state college
without going through the formal registration procedures. Interested
students must file a request form by June 1st for the fall semester and by
December 30th for the spring semester. NOTE: Priority seating
availability is given to matriculated students at the host institution.
ADULTS RETURNING TO COLLEGE (ARC)
ARC is a unique program, established in 1982 to recognize
the enriching presence of the adult student in the College community. The
campus recognizes that the talents, perspectives, learning styles, and
needs of the adult student differ from those of the more traditional
student.
The ARC Program collaborates with Commuter Programs in the
Office of Student Involvement and Campus Events in providing a newsletter;
study lounge; PINNACLE, an honor society; and the Commuter Task Force, a
"voice" for commuter student concerns.
THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES
PROGRAM
The purpose of the Framingham State College Arts and
Humanities Program is to enrich the student community by presenting a
broad-based variety of programs that will give the total College community
the opportunity to meet prominent artists, authors, entertainers,
historians, philosophers, politicians, and scientists, and to encounter
their works.
In addition to supporting the featured advertised series
of events, the Arts and Humanities Program financially supports visiting
speakers, performers, and artists, hosted by academic departments, and
student clubs and organizations. The program also supports funding for the
Mazmanian Art Gallery program, the International Film Series, and multiple
subscriptions to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) for Framingham
State College students. All Arts and Humanities events are free for the
students of Framingham State College. The Arts and Humanities Office is
centrally located in Room 313-F of the D. Justin McCarthy College Center,
and additional information regarding the program may be obtained by
calling (508) 626-4985.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
The Office of International Student Programs is
responsible for all international student programs and the regulations
governing their status as students. The Office provides international
students with answers to questions and assists them in addressing and
resolving issues and concerns that are unique to their status at the
College. Support is provided to these students from the time they are
accepted at the College throughout their academic experience. Students
receive assistance with the many forms required by the Division of
Homeland Security and are kept informed and updated on DHS regulations as
they apply to F-1 Visa students. The Office encourages international
students to share their culture and customs with other students, faculty,
staff, and area schools and organizations.
The Study Abroad Office provides information on a wide
variety of opportunities for students who are interested in
studying abroad in many countries throughout
the world; in obtaining internship opportunities in Washington, D.C.,
Europe, Australia, and New Zealand; or in participating in exchange
programs with universities in Quebec and Nova Scotia. The Office helps
students with program selection and applications, and has many catalogs
and reference books available for their use. It provides students with
information that facilitates approval of the courses for continued
matriculation at the College and credit toward graduation.
The Office of International and Study Abroad Programs is
located in Dwight Hall, Room 207. Additional information can be obtained
by calling (508) 626-4585.
PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. ARMY
SOLDIER SYSTEMS CENTER, NATICK
In 2000, the College and the Soldier Systems Center,
formerly known as Natick Labs, entered a joint venture that promotes
collaborative research and shared facilities. Faculty members conduct
research at the Center, and students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Food
Science, Clothing and Textiles, Food and Nutrition, Psychology, Economics,
and Business Administration may enroll in credit-bearing internships at
the Center. The Center provides employment opportunities to Framingham
State College graduates who attain a B.A. or B.S. with a QPA of 3.50 or
higher and are recommended by the College President.
|
